Transposition Mechanisms

Transposon mobility may be either nonreplicative or replicative. In non-replicative mobility, the TE is cut out of its original position and integrated at a new location. In replicative mobility, transposition makes staggered cuts in donor and recipient sites, followed by a complex transfer, replication, and resealing operation.

SINE and LINE generation originates from "master genes": Only a few of the thousands to millions of copies are capable of serving as the source for new integrating elements. The proposed details of copy formation and integration differ between the two types of generation.